03/27/2011

Anne has very kindly agreed to GIVE AWAY one of these beautiful "wire wrapped" rings!

I have been a follower and admirer or Anne's jewelry from long, long ago. Anne has been designing jewelry since 2005, after a stint as a fashion designer in Los Angeles. Anne says: "I approach design and merchandising the same way as a fashion designer as far as what pieces go in a collection and how a retail buyer/merchandiser would put together their select pieces for their store and customers."

"I am very interested in ancient, primitive jewelry and their simple but modern quality. There were no extruded wires or sheets of metal but hand pounded lumpy and organic looking things. No perfect looking soldered joints but irregular and skewed angles and edges. I see jewelry as an object that changes and progresses with wear, like wood or marble wearing down where traffic is the highest over the years."

Go to AnneMaaDesigns, click on "Rings" and look at the entire line of rings. It's the "wire wrapped"rings that she is offering in this Giveaway. But while you're there, look at her entire line of gorgeous jewelry.

Instructions

things you'll need:

Wrap it around the finger that you need sized. Make sure it is below the joint of your ringer and close to your knuckle.

3

Mark the spot where the paper meets and measure the distance with your ruler.

4

Size 4 is 1 and 13/16 inchesSize 5 is 1 and 15/16 inchesSize 6 is 2 and 1/16 inchesSize 7 is 2 and 1/8 inchesSize 8 is 2 and 1/4 inchesSize 9 is 2 and 5/16 inchesSize 10 is 2 and 7/16 inchesSize 11 is 2 and 9/16 inchesSize 12 is 2 and 5/8 inchesSize 13 is 2 and 3/4 inchesSize 14 is 2 and 7/8 inches

Since some of the rings on Anne's site are only available in certain sizes, you will have to first know your size, then look at what is available in that size. All rings ARE resizable up to 1/4 size.

Now you are ready!

Here are the "rules" to enter the giveaway:

1. Choose which ring you want! see above

2. Leave a comment on this blog, telling me which one you would want.

(be sure to leave your email, in case you win!)

3. Tweet, FaceBook or Blog about this, and leave another comment, for an extra chance to win

The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

I will choose a winner at the end of the day April 3 (that's a Sunday) and announce the winner the following morning.

10/04/2010

Just in time for Halloween..and the next Halloween, and the next Halloween...

This is the Gingham Jack Collection.

And this is the artist, Rebecca Harrell, signing one of her pieces at a retailer party last week. Rebecca is one of the artists I represent through LW Associates (link is up top {My Licensing Business).

05/26/2010

...and so I whisper is Anabel's blog. Not only are her products out of this world; her pictures are just as wonderful. Add to that her unusual and unique life story and the result is a blend of sophistication, curiosity, love of color and materials and an attention to details that won me over!

I've wanted to do a giveaway with some of her products for some time now. But I also wanted to interview her for a feature post... so here I am ... combining the two. I asked her some questions, just last week, to which she responded.

Q: Would you tell us something about you and your unusual history?

A.: I am a native Costa Rican of French descent and mother of two wonderful kids, living in Bolivia. I am a person of the arts who cannot keep still, and my mind and my hands are always busy creating new things and playing with every material that gets into my hands. I have traveled extensively since I was very young and enjoy the challenge of moving to new places and discovering new cultures.

Q: Can you tell us how that has influenced not only your present style, but how you think that has made your style unique? I mean, how is your world view different from, say, someone who has always lived in one place?

A.: After living in Europe, South America, Central America, Africa and the Middle East, I have found that my perceptions are much more sensitive and open to discovery. I have learned to use color and mix textures in everything in my life. Traveling and moving around has made me a much more tolerant and adaptable person to different environments and settings. I have met many people who have inspired me, who have taught me new ways doing things.

Q: And your sense of color: is it color that guides you? Or materials? Or both? Does one come first and sort of lead you to the other?

A: I first look into the materials I would like to use and then I look for the colors that work for each collection.

Q: When you lived in Africa, did you also look to the local women for their craft "ability" and use them? You are still importing items from Africa, right? As you move around the world, do you think you will continue to work with people from these different countries, or would you prefer to concentrate your efforts in one country?

A: Yes, I lived in Africa for two years. I learned there the wonderful art of beading and now use it in my accessories collections. I am still importing fabric from different parts of Africa because I love the colors and designs.

I concentrate my efforts in creating styles and collections that can be manufactured wholly in Bolivia where my permanent workshop is located, but I love the materials and colors from different parts of the world, and as they become available to me I would like to keep experimenting and creating with them.

Since 2003 I started a poverty alleviation project in Bolivia to provide work and improve incomes to women knitters in the city of Cochabamba. We started with a baby and children's clothing line, and since November 2009 started a line of women's clothing and accessories.

Now, let's get on to the Giveaway!

#1. African "Khanga" necklace.

These fabrics are from Kenya, and the beads from Tanzania

#2.

#3. Pendant Necklace

Made from Pima cotton from Peru and pewter from Bolivia. Hand made in Bolivia.

#4.

Faux pearl handmade in Bolivia.

#5.

Summer weight Pima cotton scarf made in Bolivia

To enter the giveaway:

1. Choose the item you would like!

2. Leave a comment on the post, and be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win! Then, for additional entries you can:

**** Become a follower and leave a separate comment

**** Post, or Tweet, about the giveaway and leave a comment linking back to your blog or Tweet

**** Yes, we can ship to Canada and Europe

That's up to three entries! Giveaway will close at 9 PM on Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Then, to enter the giveaway "contest": 1. Leave a comment on this post and specify your choice of either #1,2,3 or 4. 2. For a second entry either Blog or Tweet this post, and leave me another comment saying you did so. That way you will be entered twice! But you MUST leave that extra comment saying you have done so. 3. Entries will be accepted until midnight, April 6 ( U.S. residents only) when a random drawing will be held and the winner announced the next morning. Be sure to leave your email (!) so I can contact you if you are the winner!

GinaB Designs is one of the leading stationery producers! Gina started the company more than 26 years ago and has worked with many artists over the years.... I have been fortunate to be one of them. Aside from her outstanding product line, Gina and her entire team are some of the nicest people you will ever meet! Take a look at her catalog on line and have fun shopping...